Digital entertainment devices to become a bigger part of the home networks

Aug 12, 2002 12:00 PM

While the vast majority of home networks among Internet households consist of data-centric devices, 11.8% have a digital audio receiver, and 10.7% have a television set connected to the network, according to a new survey conducted by Parks Associates, Dallas. “Broadband Access @ Home III,” a survey of 10,500 Internet households, found that although printers and PCs still dominate home networks, digital entertainment devices are gaining a foothold in the market.

“As entertainment-oriented devices such as home stereos and TVs become more prominent in a networking environment, network-ready products and digital services such as streaming video and audio become exponentially more valuable to the end user,” says Michael Greeson, senior analyst and director of broadband research for Parks Associates. “Electronics manufacturers and retailers, as well as service providers, thus stand to benefit as more of these devices are added to the home network.”

The company anticipates that as PCs evolve into entertainment centers, and as “thick-client” media servers find their way into consumers’ homes, digital televisions, MP3 players, CD players, and audio receivers will soon compete with PCs and printers for a dominant presence in the home network.